Rigid Containers, plans to increase its workforce by 50 per cent in the next 12 months. The firm took over the former Co-op warehouse at Chelston Business Park, two years ago.

At present 65 people work at the plant, which makes cardboard packaging. A £5m investment in a new corrugator machine from Italy will require a much bigger workforce.

“We realised quite early on that eventually, we would have the required capacity to install a corrugated board making machine at the Wellington site,” explained Richard Coward, the company’s Group Managing Director. “In early 2015, we were satisfied that the volumes were being achieved that justified the purchase of a small corrugator.”

The majority of the 65 staff employed at the Wellington plant are local residents. The company is aiming to employ around 100 people within a year.

Julian Freeman, Sales & Marketing Director for Rigid, adds, “The site at Wellington was a logical step for us, especially for serving our national customers who had requirements for packaging solutions in the south-west of England. With a steady growth in demand from existing as well as new customers for Wellington, this new corrugator will enable us to further increase our service levels to a growing customer base in the region.”